(RNS) — The head of the largest Hispanic evangelical Christian network in the United States announced it will offer to work with the Trump administration to provide resources and shelter to migrant children crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

Speaking during a call with reporters Monday (July 1), the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, said his organization plans to launch a campaign to offer aid to immigrant children held in detention centers at the border.

The effort, which organizers are calling the “For His Children” campaign, will involve sending “shipments and cargo and truckloads of resources to the border,” including shoes, clothing and hygiene products, Rodriguez said.

“We have boots on the ground literally now working with our current administration in addressing some of the needs of these children coming over,” he said.

When a Religion News Service reporter asked if the campaign would involve churches providing shelter or foster homes for migrant children crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, Rodriguez said yes.

“That’s part of what we have in the rollout of the campaign,” he said. “It’s part of it.” 

It was not immediately clear how many — or which — children the group might be able to take in. No details were available about what kind of government approval the process…

A huge group of demonstrators stormed Hong Kong’s legislative building in protest against a new extradition bill which would see criminals face prosecution in mainland China. Many Christians have felt in fear for their lives in light of the now-suspended bill, due to China having some of the most restrictive religious freedom laws on earth.

A couple of weeks ago, powerful images emerged showing Christians singing worship song “Sing Hallelujah to the Lord” both in protest against the threat of a what is widely seen as a potential move to full Chinese rule, and also in a bid to protect themselves from prosecution.

“According to the law, any religious assemblies in public areas are not considered as illegal, so if people sing hymns together, it could actually work as a protection and guarantee that [they] stay safe,” Edwin Chow, acting president of the Hong Kong Federation of Catholic Students, told the BBC.

“Therefore people started to sing this song to protect themselves.”

Yesterday, however, there were far more chaotic scenes, with huge groups of protesters storming into the government buildings, painting graffiti on the walls and even draping the front lectern in a British Hong Kong flag used during the colonial period. 

Hong Kong was previously a member of the British Colonies, before being handed back to the…

The Evangelical Covenant Church voted to defrock a pastor in Minneapolis and expel his church for allowing gay marriage.

Rev. Dan Collison was voted out of his position by a 77 percent vote at the Evangelical Covenant Church’s annual meeting in Nebraska last week.

The church Collison pastored, First Covenant Church, was expelled from the denomination.

“I feel grounded in the path we have chosen,” Collison told reporters. “I feel grateful for the pastors and churches who stood up for us. I feel compassion to those caught in the middle.”

Collison became the church’s pastor in 2009. The ECC says the church can keep operating in its building, but it will not be under the ECC umbrella. The church has said Collison will continue serving as lead pastor.

The decision to defrock Collison came after a First Covenant staff member officiated the wedding of two women from the church worship band in 2014. The ceremony took place off-site.

According to ABC News, the church had also displayed a “love all” statement at the church, saying that members of the LGBTQ community were welcome to participate and to serve at the church.

The church had also said that it offered wedding services “to all in our congregation without regard for ability, race, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation.”

The ECC also voted Friday to remove a retired Michigan…

A British teacher punished a 10-year-old boy and girl by kicking them out of class for five days after they objected to LGBT-themed lessons as part of Gay Pride Month, according to their parents and a British Christian organization.

The teacher was leading an LGBT lesson June 20 for fifth graders at Heavers Farmer Primary School in South London when a 10-year-old boy named Farrell asked, “Sir, please may I not take part in this lesson?” The teacher had been handing out LGBT material for coloring. 

The teacher refused and said it was part of the curriculum, according to Christian Concern.

The teacher later asked Farrell where he was from, and he answered he was of African Jamaican heritage and from a country where “everybody is Christian and Catholic, so they don’t accept LGBT.”

The teacher also asked Farrell and his friend, Kaysey, about LGBT people: “Do you want them to die?” Farrell replied he did not, but that in his home country LGBT people would be punished. 

LGBT ideology, Farrell told the teacher, was against his religion. Farrell and Kaysey are Christian.

The teacher accused Farrell of using “homophobic language” and for saying, “LGBT sucks and LGBT’s dumb.” Farrell denies saying either, according to Christian Concern. 

The headmaster kicked both students out of class for five days and shouted at them, “How dare you? You are a…

Working with a faith-based coalition, Kenny Alphin of country duo Big & Rich met with six U.S. Senators this past week. They spoke on behalf of people worldwide facing extreme hunger.

“I want to make a difference even in the smallest way. I’m only one person, but I can feel it working…”

As half of country duo Big & Rich, “Big” Kenny Alphin sings their hit song “That’s Why I Pray” on stages across the country night after night. On June 20, he put the sentiment into action when he joined a coalition of faith leaders on a mission to Capitol Hill. They met with leaders in six Senate offices to advocate for global nutrition funding in U.S. foreign aid.

“I’m grateful that you may know my voice for singing songs,” said Alphin in a statement. “I’m even more grateful to use it to speak on behalf of our fellow brothers and sisters who are suffering from hunger and malnutrition.”Since their debut in 2004, when they won Best New Artist honors at the Billboard Music Awards, Big & Rich have been a staple on Top 40 radio.

The Faith-Based Coalition for Global Nutrition represents the collective voice of more than 250 evangelical pastors, recording artists, and nonprofit leaders. Members include Gospel Music Association president Jackie Patillo, recording artist Michael W. Smith, and Dr. David Stevens, CEO of the Christian Medical and…